Building construction



Nov. 16, 1937. R. L. HOHL I BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheeti "Invcniom- RmseZZ L.H071 Z. 8. M WM Filed March 5, 19:56

Nov. 16, 1937. R. HOHL B ILDIN CONSTRUCTION Filed March 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenio 2".-

RusseZZ 13.15227 F03.

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Patented Nov. 16, 1937 ,UNITED STATES PATENT} OFFICE.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Russell L. Hohl,

New York, N. Y.

10 Claims.

My invention relatesto building structures, particularly but not exclusivelyto panelled walls and the like, and is more particularly concerned with a furring strip for use in such constructions.

The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in the light of an embodiment of the invention selected for illustrative purposes, while the scope of the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation of a panel assembly for a wall; and

Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive are respectively sections on the lines 22, 3-3, 44, 5-5, 6-6 and (-1 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the panels I, which preferably are formed of sheet metal, as for example stainless steel, or sheet metal coated with vitreous enamel, are supported by the horizontally extending strips 3.

As shown, these supporting strips, which conveniently are made as extrusions of indefinite length, and of metal such as high content aluminum alloy, for example duralumin, or, if desired, bronze, are of channel shape to present grooves having the reentrant side walls 5. The panels along their horizontal edges are formed with marginal resilient flanges 1 adapted to snap into these grooves when the panels are pressed toward the supporting structure, the reentrant side walls of the grooves retaining the panels in assembled relation with the strips. Conveniently the grooves are filled with metallic paste 9 for rendering the joints between the horizontal edges of the panels water tight.

As shown, the supporting strips 3 at opposite sides thereof adjacent the panels are formed with pairs of spaced flanges I l forming grooves I3 between them. Entered into these grooves are thetenon-like end portions l5 of vertically positioned channel-shaped members l1. These channelshaped members are conveniently made as extrusions of the same metal as the supporting strips 3, and are cut to size to fit between adjacent strips 3. By removing the end portions of the side walls I9 of the members, which may be readily done with a hack-saw, the projecting tenons I5 are formed for insertion in the grooves l3. As clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, the vertical edges of the panels have flanges 2| which are received within the openings of the channelshaped members ll, the channels preferably being filled with metallic paste for rendering the joint water tight.

Herein, for supporting the strips 3, I have provided furring strips 23 which may be formed of the same metal as the strips 3 and I! and as extrusions of indefinite length. As shown, the furring strips consist of the web portions 25 having side flanges 2?, the centermost portions of the webs being thickened and provided with grooves 29 coextensive with the length of the strips. As shown, these grooves have opposite side walls 31 which converge at approximately the same angle as the heads 33 of the flat headed screws of common shape employed forconnecting the supporting strips 3 to the furring strips. As illustrated, the bottom wall of the groove 29 is provided with a bead 35, which preferably is of V-shaped crossseotion, the bead being coextensive with the length of the groove and being adapted to enter the usual slots 31 in the heads of the screws for preventing turning of the latter.

The shanks 39 of the screws extend through openings ii in the supporting strips 3 so as to project into the grooves in the supporting strips between the flanges l of the panels. By use of nuts 63 screw-threaded on the shanks 39' the strips 3 may be securely held in assembled relation with the furring strips. These nuts conveniently are of the castellated type to permit the use of a screw-driver for tightening them. In instances where the furring strips are made of aluminum alloy no washer need be employed beneath the nuts as the latter, if made of brass or iron, on account of the softness of this alloy of which the strips are formed will cut into the walls of the grooves and. seat themselves and be locked against turning.

The furring strip may be secured to the foundation W of the wall by use of nails 45, or by screws, with or Without the employment of lead sleeves, wooden plugs, or the like, depending upon the nature of this foundation, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

It will be observed that with the use of preformed panels of the character described the strips 3, to secure best results, should be arranged parallel to each other and with a definite spacing. This is readily accomplished by having the screws which secure the strips to the furring strips slidably mounted in the latter. With this construction it is unnecessary that the furring strips be mounted exactly at right angles to the strips 3, which would be the case if the screws extended through holes drilled in the furring strips before they were placed upon the wall. In fact, the furring strips may be mounted at an angle to the strips 3 when necessary in order to have the furring strips avoid obstructions on the face of the foundation of the wall.

It will be understood that within the scope of the appended claims wide deviations may be made from the embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 7 V

1. A furring strip or the like having a longitudinally extending groove adapted slidably to receive the slotted head of a screw and having means for slidably entering the slot of said screw to prevent turning of the latter relative to said strip.

2. A furring strip or the like having a longitudinally extending groove adapted slidably to receive the slotted head of a screw and having a longitudinally extending bead within said groove for slidably engaging the slot of said screw for preventing turning of the latter.

3. A furring strip or the like having a longitudinally extending dovetailed groove the sides of which are adapted slidably to engage the opposite sides of the slotted head of a flat-headed screw and having at the bottom of said groove a longitudinally extending bead positioned substantially mediallyof said groove, which head is adapted slidably to be received within the slot of said head for preventing it turning relative to the strip.

4. A panel supporting structure comprising panel supporting strips, furring strips for securing said supporting strips disposed transversely thereof, said furring strips being provided with longitudinally extending grooves for slidably receiving the slotted heads of screws for connecting said supporting strips to said furring strips, said furr'ing strips within said grooves having means for entering the slots of said screws for preventing turning thereof.

5. A panel supporting structure comprising "panel supporting strips, furring strips for securing said supporting strips disposed transversely theresaid supporting strips disposed transversely there of, said furring strips being provided with longitudinally extending dovetailed grooves the sides of which are adapted slidably to engage the opposite sides of the slotted heads of flat-headed screws received within said grooves, said grooves on their bottom surfaces being provided with longitudinally extending beads adapted slidably to be received within the slots of said heads for preventing turning thereof.

7. A wall construction comprising panels, supporting strips for said panels, said supporting strips having grooves with reentrant sides and adjacent panels having portions cooperating therewith for securing said panels to said supporting strips, furring strips for securing said supporting strips having longitudinally extending grooves for receiving the heads of screws for attaching said supporting strips to said furring strips, said supporting strips being formed with openings for receiving the shanks ofsaid screws and adapted to cause said shanks to be positioned between said portions of adjacent panels received in said grooves of said supporting strips.

8. A supporting structure comprising a furring strip or the like of extruded metal shaped to provide a longitudinally extending groove adapted slidably to receive and retain the head of a 'fastener member, the lateral surface of which head is a surface of revolution, and slidably engaging cooperating means on said fastener member and strip to prevent turning of said member.

9. A supporting structure comprising a furring strip or the like of extruded metal shaped to provide a longitudinally extending groove adapted slidably-to receive and retain the head ofa fastener member, said stri and head having slidably engaging cooperating tongue and groove means within said groove of said strip to prevent turning of said fastener member.

10. A furring strip or the like having a face portion, spaced flanges carried by said face portion adapted to rest against a supporting structure, said face portion intermediate said flanges having a longitudinally extending groove adapted to receive the slotted head of a fastener member for securing a stringer to said face'portion, said strip having a longitudinally extending bead opposite the opening of said groove for slidably engaging with the slot of the head of said fastener member.

RUSSELL L. I-IOHL. 

